Definitions of Terms

Disability refers to a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits or restricts a major life activity, such as hearing, seeing, speaking, breathing, performing manual tasks, walking, caring for oneself, learning, or working.

Essential Functions are basic job duties that a faculty member must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Marginal Functions are non-essential, secondary job duties that do not need to be accomplished by a specific individual in order for the essential functions of an employee's job to be accomplished. Marginal functions can be performed by another individual or mechanism.

Reasonable Accommodation is any change or adjustment to a job or work environment that permits a qualified individual with a disability to perform the essential functions of his or her job, or to enjoy benefits and privileges of employment equal to those enjoyed by others without disabilities.

Qualified Individual with a disability refers to an individual who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of the job in question.